Constructors: New Beginning

Chapter 19 The Finals

After another intermission, the three of us got healed by the nurses. After that, they had us stand in the center of the arena before we began the final rounds. We stood in a row beside one another with Julia beside Uriela and me farther down. She was still in her true dragonewt form, but she was kinda looking down at the floor. I could tell just by the look on her face what she feeling. 

James, you can hear me? Julia spoke in my head. 

Yeah, I can hear you. What's up? 

This is what Uriela actually looks like. 

Yeah, she hid this from us ever since we met her, I'm still shocked by this. 

She looks so cool though! How could she hide this from us?! 

I couldn't help but chuckle at her comment but immediately stopped when Julia coughed. 

I'm sorry, I couldn't help but laugh at your excitement. But yeah, she does look cool; we'll have to ask her when this is all over. 

"Guys," Uriela spoke and lifted her head up, which made us jump. "I want to apologize for not telling you what I truly am. I'm sure you have a lot of questions to ask, but those can wait until we graduate." 

We both felt the color of our skin turn white as we nodded. 

Did she hear us? I thought we made sure no one but us can hear one another? 

I don't know Julia, but it looks like the finals are about to begin. 

I looked up to the podium and saw Alice, the Monster Trio, and Head Mistress walk over towards us. I didn't sense the fear that Evgeni was feeling from earlier, but I knew that there was some hidden away. There was something else I was sensing though, and it came from Leala. She was looking at Julia as if she were calculating a plan of attack even before the battle, something Julia should be doing as well. She hasn't sparred with another Soul Mage before today, so she needs to figure out how to combat against Leala's emotional foci, her fear. 

"Witches and mages, the time has finally come," Alice snapped her fingers, and blasts of rainbow smoke burst out from the side of the podium. "It's time for the finals of the Magus Exam! We have our three finalists, Uriela Strauss, James Kidd, and Julia Kidd! These three have shown their incredible skill and power to make it here, and now it's time for them face off against the three senior mages that stand beside me! But before we can begin, our Head Mistress has something to say." Alice passed the mic to Head Mistress, and she walked closer to us. 

"First off, I want to congratulate the three of you for making it this far, each of you has shown your skill to everyone, and now it's time for you to prove that you can pass through any obstacle. The senior mages behind me are just like those outside in the city and all over Seraphim when it comes to power and skill. You defeating them shows that you can overcome anything that the world can throw at you. I wish you all the best of luck, but I think I've stalled on long enough. How the finals begin is that we let the senior mages decide on who's fighting first," Head Mistress turned back around at the other three. "Have you decided who's going first?" 

"Yes, Head Mistress. I want to go first." Leala stepped forward, grinning towards Julia. Everyone around began to whisper and murmur to one another. I look over at Julia, and she looked like she was about to have a panic attack. 

"Alright then, James, Uriela, can you please head to your waiting room so we may begin." 

"Yes, Head Mistress," Uriela bowed, and as she turned around. She placed her hand on Julia's shoulder. "Good luck Julia. I hope to see you as a graduate." 

Julia held tightly on the back of my shirt and started to hyperventilate. "I'm scared James, please don't leave me." 

Feeling her anxiety and nervousness was like getting hit in the head by a truck; it was throbbing and came in waves. But I couldn't just leave her like this. I turned around and hugged her, and she gripped my shirt as if she didn't want to let go, but they were telling me to go. "Julia, I need to go, you'll be fine." 

"What if I don't win and you do? I can't stay here without you, James." 

"Look at me, Jules," I told her, and she lifted her teary-eyed face up. "You've gotten stronger ever since we started training. You've made it this far, and just like what Head Mistress said, there will be others like them out there. If we're going to explore Seraphim, then we need to be ready for whatever comes, including those who will get in our way. Let's show everyone not to mess with the Kidd siblings." 

"You know just how to cheer me up, James." Julia wiped the tears off her face and grinned. 

"That's why, I'm your big brother. Now hurry up and beat Leala so we can go explore Seraphim!" I let go of Julia and ran to my waiting room. 

Let's show Grandpa Oros and Grandma Irene what we can do. 

Julia turned back around to see that the podium and everyone was gone except for Leala and her emotional foci. Since they were both Soul Mages, they were able to see each other's foci, so Leala was able to see Emma, Maya, Ester, and Amy standing beside Julia. 

"So, what I was sensing was true. You do have four emotions at your side. I have to admit it must be hard handling all of them at once." Leala tried to get into her head, but she wasn't going to fall for it. 

"They are my emotions personified. It's like seeing myself in a mirror, so I have no trouble handling all four of them," she told Julia with the utmost confidence, but trying to hide her nervousness. 

Yeah sure. Ester giggled at Julia. 

"Ester." She snapped at Ester, and she instantly stopped giggling. 

"Well, that sure is some way to handle your emotions. Come Voxus, let's show them how a proper soul mage should show off their power." Leala got into her attack stance, and so did her foci. 

Yes, Leala. 

"You ready for this, girls?" Julia asked. 

Let's do this! All of them said in unison as they got into fighting stances.